---

2008 Health Digest for Federated States of Micronesia Published

Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM Information Services): January 28, 2009 - In addition to the Health Sector Progress Report for 1999-2008, the FSM National Health Department has also published the 2008 Health Digest for the Federated States of Micronesia. This Health Digest provides basic health information about the FSM, the health care delivery systems, health care funding, the health workforce in the four states, the health situation and trends as well as a brief description of national health mandates and vital statistics. This digest also contains the fourteen Health Performance Measures and Country Profiles.

The sources for these data are the respective health departments in the FSM and various health programs coordinated at the national level. Data were either reported to the FSM National Department of Health and Social Affairs or collected by staff from the Department during monitoring and site visits.

In a message from the FSM Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs, Mrs. Vita Skilling, it states that this "Health Digest publication is the evidence of the Federated States of Micronesia National Government's commitment since the inception of Compact I and now the amended Compact for the production of an annual health digest." She stated that the "information provided, when used appropriately, can enhance our overall decision making process in health care delivery services" and that "future development policies will benefit when evidence based data are reported on a periodic basis and can be accessed easily."

Although data collection and reporting continue to be problematic throughout the FSM, this digest aims to provide descriptive analysis on the overall population health. In the executive summary of the digest, the authors claim that "to improve the annual production of the Health Digest, it is highly recommended that institutional capacity in statistical and epidemiologic analysis, including the ability to conduct and analyze data on population and/or disease prevalence studies be given a high priority."

For a copy of the Health Digest 2008 please contact Mr. Ben Jesse at bjesse@fsmhealth.fm.